Dirk Nowitzki Practices With Mavs’ Starters

Dallas Mavericks/NBA(DALLAS) — Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki practiced with the starters on Friday for the first time this season and is inching closer to resuming his regular role with the team.

The 34-year-old Nowitzki missed the first 27 games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in mid-October.

“Whether I’m starting or not really doesn’t matter,” Nowitzki said after Friday’s practice. “I guess we’ll make that decision tomorrow. We didn’t talk about it today.”

In six games coming off the bench since his return, Nowitzki has averaged 10.0 points in 22.2 minutes per game.

Nowitzki could be in the starting lineup Saturday night when the 13-20 Mavericks host the struggling New Orleans Hornets.